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Chile 1-0 Switzerland

Bank accounts, chocolate, chunky watches, exclusive ski resorts where a coffee costs the same price as a pied a terre in Chelsea, tennis legends, incredibly useful devices to ratchet open the top of razor-sharp bean cans on ill-advised camping holidays - is the football team going to become the latest phenomenon which makes Switzerland famous the world over? A second Group H win, following their incredible 1-0 win over pre-tournament favourites Spain, and it's hello the last 16. In their way stand 23 men from the world's longest and thinnest country, Chile, who impressed in their 1-0 win over Honduras last week.

14:22Commentary

Dull? DULL? We've just seen six goals in 45 minutes over in a soggy Cape Town. I'm Pranav Soneji - I know, I can't help it - and I will be in the hotseat as those landlocked, polyglot party poopers from Switzerland attempt to rip down the Chilean bunting and eat all the buffet vol-au-vonts in Port Elizabeth. You know what I want off you - texts to 81111 (UK) and +44 7786200666 (worldwide); and 606, as well as Twitter via the BBC World Cup group.

14:26Commentary

Team news just in and Chile have recalled striker Humberto Suazo, the leading scorer in South American qualifying, after missing the 1-0 win over Honduras because of a thigh injury. Switzerland are without Philippe Senderos, so Steven von Bergen slots in at centre-back.

Goalless World Cup fact fans, a gem for you: Switzerland are in line to set a new World Cup record for number of minutes played without conceding a goal. Should Ottmar Hitzfeld's side contain Chile's attack for 67 minutes, they will have played 551 minutes without leaking a goal. The Swiss finished top of their group in 2006 with a 0-0 draw against France, as well as and 2-0 wins over Togo and South Korea. They lost their last 16 match to Ukraine on penalties after a goalless extra-time draw before their shock 1-0 win over Spain last week. The current goalless record is 550 minutes held by Italy, set between 17 June 1986 and 3 July 1990.

Switzerland boss Ottmar Hitzfeld: "The favourites and the stronger teams have a lot of pressure during the group phase because everybody just takes it for granted that they will reach the round of 16. There is always the fear of failure and if you struggle, you become nervous, and that's when the underdogs have an opportunity to create a surprise."

14:46Commentary

If you could drive from Switzerland to Germany, Austria, across the Balkans, Turkey, Syria, cross into Africa through Egypt and into the desert plains of Sudan, past the tropical potholed roads of east Africa before crossing the border from Mozambique into South Africa, some 10,000 miles later, would you choose a battered old VW van LT45 1989 as your chariot of choice? Well, if you are four blokes from Switzerland, it's a no-brainer. The BBC's Martin Fookes caught up with the intrepid travellers who braved the testing conditions, not to mention numerous breakdowns, to reach South Africa. Might as well set off for Brazil 2014 now...

SMS

From Anon: "Who is wearing what colour in the Chile Swiss match? I don't want to shout 'vamos las Rojas!' if the Swiss are wearing red and not the Chileans.

Haven't seen either team on the pitch as yet, but I can confirm the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium is absolutely swathed in red, with the odd smattering of blue and white. Which is very unhelpful.

14:50Commentary

Breaking news - Switzerland will wear white.

SMS

From Anon: "If Fed makes it snappy, he will be off court in time to catch kick-off between Chile and the Swiss."

Yeah, that'll explain why the greatest tennis player ever is playing like me on a Sunday morning...

14:58Commentary

Anthem time in Port Elizabeth and I'm a huge fan of the Chilean number. Another jaunty, uplifting South American number with rousing horns and drums, the sort of tub-thumping effort that makes you want to scream very loudly in the face of the man standing next to you. The Swiss anthem is gentler with lots of high notes, although the sizeable gathering of Chilean fans didn't quite observe the silence which usually greets the anthems.

15:00KICK-OFF

And we're off.

1 minYELLOW CARD

Barely 60 seconds after kick-off and Humberto Suazo is in the referee's book for a hefty tackle in the middle of the pitch.

SMS

From Anon: "The reason Chile fans sang over Swiss anthem is that they're not playing the full Chilean anthem - a shame as it's the best in town."

5 minsCommentary

Alexis Sanchez ha a punt from a full 25 yards out - and watches his effort sail high over Diego Benaglio's goal.

7 minsCommentary

So far not much to get excited about, although Switzerland have been handed a useful free-kick some 35 yards out for a dubious handball.

10 minsCommentary

Chile, with their attacking three-man forward line, swarm forward as Arturo Vidal stings the palms of Diego Benaglio with a vicious right-footed shot from outside the box before Carlos Carmona follows up with another stinger, equally well-saved by the Swiss keeper. This game has suddenly come to light.

12 minsCommentary

Humberto Suazo races into the Swiss box with a strong burst but his cutback can't find a team-mate inside the box. The Swiss defence are reeling after that double save from the keeper.

16 minsCommentary

Valon Behrami gets a little too tenacious in midfield and is penalised by the Saudi referee.

18 minsYELLOW CARD

Baffling yellow card for Blaise Nkufo, who is booked for pulling the shirt of Carlos Carmona inside Chile's half. Bit of a pointless booking - and the striker is absolutely aghast to see the yellow card.

ContributorBBC Radio 5 live's Danny Mills

"The Swiss are struggling to get any decent possession, Nkufo has no support up front. They may have to change their mentality because if they continue to sit back, Chile will create chances."

22 minsYELLOW CARD

Plenty of tasty tackles flying all over the place - and it's another card, this time for Carlos Carmona, who is booked for a reckless challenge on West Ham's Valon Behrami. Carmona was booked against Honduras and will miss Chile's next match against Spain. More importantly for Switzerland, it's about 40m from goal.

25 minsYELLOW CARD

Unbelievably, Saudi referee Khali Al Ghamdi books Waldo Ponce for a high boot, despite the fact there was no malice from the defender as he challenged for the ball. Yellow card number four swiftly follows before Benjamin Huggel heads wide from the subsequent free-kick.

27 minsCommentary

Oooof! That was close for Chile as a weak back pass is almost intercepted by Blaise Nkufo, but goalkeeper Claudio Bravo snaffles out the danger with a swift clearance just as the Swiss striker is set to pounce.

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From Anon: "Looks like another game is going to be ruined by stupid whistle-happy refs."

30 minsRED CARD

You've got to say, judging by the card-happy official's performance so far, that was coming. Valon Behrami is given his marching orders for what looks like an elbow on Arturo Vidal. It didn't look too bad at normal speed but on reflection, replays justify the referee Khali Al Ghamdi's decision.

35 minsCommentary

Stephan Lichtsteiner screams to the heavens after bringing down Jean Beausejour just outside the box near the byeline. The subsequent free-kick sees the Swiss scramble the ball away, but with little confidence, for a corner. The Chileans are bossing this game now.

ContributorBBC Radio 5 live's Danny Mills

"That's poor from Vidal, it's just an arm across him. It's a free-kick maybe at best, it's not an intentional elbow. The way he has gone down is embarrassing. The referee has been a bit officous so far, he seems like an accident waiting to happen."

38 minsCommentary

Excellent left-wing run from the industrious Jean Beausejour allows the striker to whip over a fantastic cross for partner Humberto Suazo to jump unopposed, but his header from 10 yards sails over the crossbar. Should have done better with that.

40 minsCommentary

Oooh glorious chance wasted for Chile as Alexis Sanchez limply fires a 15-yard strike straight at Swiss keeper Diego Benaglio. Chile coach Marcelo Bielsa will be cursing in frustration following that weak effort. Switzerland are hanging on by a whisker here.

42 minsSUBSTITUTION

Switzerland switch to a 4-4-1 formation as striker Alexander Frei is sacrificed for midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta.

45 minsCommentary

Chile are so close to the Swiss goalline they are almost sniffing the whitewash. Fast feet from Alexis Sanchez via a deflected shot is saved by Benaglio while another menacing left-wing cross from Jean Beausejour is just about cleared by Switzerland's under-siege defence.

15:48HALF-TIMEChile 0-0 Switzerland

15:52Commentary

So there ends a tumultous first half full of yellow cards and one sending off. I'm a little bit worried about what might happen in the next 45 minutes... Some of you have had problems with the description of Behrami's red card - that should be all in there now, not sure why it wasn't there in the first place. Meanwhile, BBC Radio 5 live summariser Danny Mills was all in a tizz as some players were apparently swapping shirts - at half-time.

SMS

From Sid: "The World Cup was living up to its motto of fair play, but play acting for Kaka’s and Valon’s red card has spoilt it a bit."

ContributorBBC Radio 5 live's Danny Mills

"The second half will be all Chile. They need to win this game but can they break down the Swiss? Sanchez and Beausejour, who are playing as out-and-out wingers in a front three for Chile, have been impressive. They are the key to this game. Two players have swapped shirts - at half-time! That's the first time I've ever seen that in my life. Am I getting confused or isn't that supposed to happen at the end of the game? That's bizarre."

The teams are back out again - we are a whistle away from the start of the second half. On comes Jorge Valdivia and Mark Gonzalez for Arturo Vidal and Humberto Suazo.

16:04KICK-OFF

And we're off.

46 minsYELLOW CARD

Oh dear. Just a minute after the start of the second half, it's a yellow card for Tranquillo Barnetta.

47 minsCommentary

Alexis Sanchez is down on his knees celebrating after his deflected 20-yard strike sneaks past Swiss keeper Diego Benaglio, but the midfielder doesn't see the assistant's flag raised high for everyone to see after new man Jorge Valdivia and two other players are caught offside. Well, almost everyone.

52 minsCommentary

Snappy passing by Chile, injecting plenty of pace and speed with a series of impressive interchanges. However, the Swiss are a obdurate lot although the Europeans are fortunate as Jorge Valdivia's excellent byeline cross cross fizzes across the Swiss box and beyond any man in red.

54 minsCommentary

Alexis Sanchez finds himself with a one-on-one with goalkeeper Benaglio, but his second touch is a little heavy, allowing the Swiss stopper to deflect the ball with his body before one of his desperate defenders clears towards row z.

58 minsCommentary

Oh this is exciting - if Switzerland can last up until 67 minutes without conceding, then they will set a new World Cup best for going goalless for 551 minutes. However, they are hanging on by a thread as wave after wave of Chile attacks are repelled. Mark Gonzalez jumps high to meet a corner, but his header is wide as he gets tangled with a team-mate at the moment of impact.

60 minsYELLOW CARD

Madness. One word to describe our Saudi official. Gokhan Inler is booked for bringing down Matias Fernandez, only for the Chilean to be booked for someone unfathomable reason. Oh and Gary Medel is booked as the wall is formed for using his hands to protest a little too eagerly. I've lost count of yellow cards now.

62 minsCommentary

A rare Swiss attack sees Gelson Fernandes, he of Spainish giant-killing goal fame, slice open the Chilean defence with a superb pass for Tranquillo Barnetta, but the former Manchester City midfielder puts a little too much gas on the pass.

64 minsSUBSTITUTION

Third substitution by Marcelo Bielsa with Estaban Paredes coming on for Matias Fernandez, who will miss the final group match against Spain following his second yellow card.

ContributorBBC Radio 5 live's Danny Mills

"The referee is an absolute shocker. This is probably his 15 minutes of fame, I doubt we'll see him again. He should not be refereeing in this World Cup. Ridiculous."

66 minsCommentary

Reto Ziegler's curling left-foot free-kick evades the head of Nkufo but goalkeeper Claudio Bravo isn't too sure about the ball's trajectory as he palms the ball out for a corner. Slight defensive concerns for the jubilant and on-song Chilean fans.

67 minsSUBSTITUTION

Switzerland introduce striker Eren Derdiyok for Blaise Nfuko and, as the minutes slide to 67, a new World Cup record is set for the longest amount of time without conceding a goal. How they have kept out the Chileans for 37 minutes with only 10 men is testament to their defensive solidity.

SMS

From Steve, Dun Laoghaire: "Tranquillo Barnetta - the calmest haircut in world football?"

Bada-tish. Steve's here all week.

ContributorBBC Radio 5 live's Danny Mills

"Chile have played some good football but the criticism I'd make is that they haven't been able to find that final ball. The Swiss are camped on the edge of their own area and it's very difficult to break down. Chile just need to show a touch more composure."

72 mins:Commentary

Chile have 10 men permanently camped inside Switzerland's half now, but another promising attack is cut short by a shrill blow of referee Khali Al Ghamdi's whistle, this time for handball as Alexis Sanchez shapes to shoot.

74 minsGOALChile 1-0 Switzerland

It had to happen... Estaban Paredes breaks the offside trap and races into the Swiss box, only to be confronted by the onrushing Diego Benaglio. However, the second-half sub skips around the keeper before sending over a superb cross for Mark Gonzalez, who heads into the net from four yards with a defender in desperate chase to clear the ball. The former Liverpool winger, born and raised in South Africa, rushes to the thousands of fans who have gone bananas. A deserved goal considering how they have dominated most of this game.

78 minsCommentary

However, TV replays suggest Paredes was offside when the ball was played through for him. Doesn't matter now, the goal stands.

ContributorBBC Radio 5 live's Danny Mills

"The defender on the line was very unlucky, the header from Gonzalez just bounced over his leg. That was the little bit of luck Chile needed to win this game. I think the Swiss will struggle now. They need to be careful not to concede another because goal difference will be crucial in this group."

83 minsCommentary

Gonzalez and Paredes combine once more, this time with Gonzalez as the provider with a deft throughball, only for Paredes to blaze over with only the keeper to beat from about 14 yards. Paredes looks aghast. Cheer up son.

85 minsCommentary

Gonzalez gets a little too eager as he storms into the Swiss half with a powerful surge, only to blaze a 30-yard strike straight at a defender. A pass to the unmarked Alexis Sanchez would have probably wrapped up the match.

88 minsCommentary

Switzerland launch what is probably only their third foray into the Chilean half, but Eren Derdiyok's cross is an absolute shocker and limps out for a throw. And seconds later Estaban Paredes is just - and I do mean just - caught offside with only Benaglio to beat.

89 minsCommentary

Marcelo Bielsa, who has shown little emotion every time his face is shown on TV, holds his head in his hands as Estaban Paredes fires wide with the goal gaping. And unbelievably, Eren Derdiyok sidefoots wide from a similar position - their only real chance of the game. That is a shocker.

90 minsINJURY TIMEThree minutes

91 minsYELLOW CARD

The match couldn't end without another yellow card and sure enough, Jorge Valdivia finds his name in the referee's book for diving in the box. However, the Saudi official is spot on - even Valdivia agrees.

16:52FULL-TIMEChile 1-0 Switzerland

SMS

From Paul, Newcastle: "Chile - very entertaining to watch but I have an awful feeling they're going to regret wasting some of those chances."

ContributorBBC Radio 5 live's Danny Mills

"Very impressed with Chile in the first half but all credit to Switzerland in the second half, they set their stall out and did it very well. In the end, one great move from Chile won it. It was possibly a fair result but the sending off was key, although Chile were almost undone by it because the Swiss just defended. The referee was out of his depth, he almost lost control. About 10 players were booked, good players will now miss the next game for nothing."

17:01Commentary

If you managed to keep count of the number of cards brandished in Port Elizabeth, you'll know that referee Khali Al Ghamdi took the name of nine players with one red card. That's an average of one every nine minutes. Let's hope we don't see anything like that in the next couple of weeks, yeah?

Twitter

From Infostrada Sports: "Ten cards in Chile v Switzerland which is the most in a 2010 World Cup beating the nine during Germany v Serbia."

17:09Commentary

Right, that's it from me - for the moment. Join me in about 30 minutes time when we start our preparations for Spain v Honduras, a match with plenty of ramifications for neutral viewers and ardent Spanish and Honduran fans alike. Adios.

Twitter

From Infostrada Sports: Chile win two group phase World Cup matches for the first time since 1962."

By Phil Dawkes

Mark Gonzalez's late header was enough for Chile to overcome a stubborn defensive display from 10-man Switzerland and leave the South Americans on the verge of qualification for the last 16.

The former Liverpool winger rose to head home an Estaban Paredas cross with quarter of an hour remaining to reward Chile's persistence if not their prolific creativity.

In holding the South Americans beyond the 67 minute mark, Switzerland surpassed the record for the longest run without conceding a goal at the World Cup finals, but they were made to work hard for this feat after Valon Behrami was sent off for raising an arm to Arturo Vidal.

The result gives Chile their second successive victory following an opening 1-0 win over Honduras and leaves them top of Group H on six points ahead of a final game against Spain on Friday.

Switzerland, who beat the Spanish in their first game, can still qualify if they beat Honduras and the other result goes their way.

The game promised much, with the irresistible force of the exciting Chile attack meeting the immoveable object that is the Swiss defence, but this reckoned without an influential third party - referee Khalil Al Ghamdi.

In the very first minute, Chile striker Humberto Suazo was booked for a high tackle, which set the tone for the Saudi Arabian official's performance.

Suazo's yellow was the first of nine - many of which were questionable - during a game consistently halted for minor indiscretions and needless flare-ups as the referee's control diminished.

This played into the hands of the conservative Swiss until what seemed like an inevitable red card materialised on the half hour when Behrami raised his arm into the face of Vidal as the Chilean challenged from behind, resulting in an instant dismissal and enraged protests amongst the Switzerland ranks.

Prior to this, the Swiss had been typically cautious and containing, with the only chances of note a dipping 25-yard effort from Chile's Vidal, which Diego Benaglio palmed away, and Carlos Carmona's 20-yard follow-up, which the keeper was also equal to.

After the red card, Switzerland's commitment to frustrating their opponents was total, a testimony to which was the withdrawal of record goalscorer Alexander Frei, who like Behrami had been recalled for this match, but failed to last until half-time.

Suazo, who with 10 goals was top scorer in South American qualifying, but missed Chile's opening game through injury, made it longer than his returning Swiss counterparts, but his substitution at half-time was a result of an uneventful first half, featuring just one effort, which he headed well over.

Chile's most likely source of a goal was forward Alexis Sanchez, who had his side's only other attempts of the opening 45 minutes, the first of which he struck straight at Benaglio from 12 yards and the second the keeper comfortably gathered after the 21-year-old's attempted cross had deflected to him.

Sanchez thought he had finally ended the Swiss reistance early in the second half when his shot from 20 yards deflected in off substitute Jorge Valdivia, but the latter was offside at the initial shot and celebrations were cut short by a linesman's flag.

Minutes later a mistake by Steve von Bergen allowed Sanchez to bear down on goal, but he slightly overran it and Benaglio was able to block at his feet before the ball was hammered to safety.

It was not long after Switzerland surpassed Italy's World Cup clean sheet record - set between 1986 and 1990 - that Chile broke the deadlock when substitute Gonzalez made amends for an earlier missed header by rising at the back post to head in after Paredes had skipped past Benaglio to supply the cross.

Paredas had two late chances of his own to ease his side's nerves but he shot wide with both before Swiss substitute Eren Derdiyok had a golden opportunity to snatch a point. But with the goal at his mercy he shot past the post from 12 yards out.

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